Choctaw culture, including traditional basket weaving and bead work, was highlighted last week during the 64th annual fair, which featured traditional foods such as fry bread, social dancers and the World Series of stickball among other attractions. (See related story, page 1B)

At the arts and crafts tent, 27-year veteran Eleanor Chickaway carefully demonstrated how a traditional Choctaw Indian basket is weaved by hand.

"When I was young, I watched my grandmothers make baskets," Chickaway said. "I tried to get them to teach me, but they told me that I was too young."

When she was older her mother taught her to weave Choctaw baskets which she continues to do today, showcasing her talent each year at the fair.

Chickaway said the baskets are made for different reasons. Some are used to display flowers or to collect eggs. They are also popular utilized as picnic baskets.

Adam Bell of Memphis, Tenn., assisted at his father's souvenir booth at the fair where two-foot blow guns caught the eye of most visitors.

Bell said the blow guns, many used to hunt with, were originally 6-8 feet long.

Hunters would blow a dart from the gun to kill small game and birds, he said.

Handmade rabbit sticks, which resemble wooden hammers, were another popular souvenir at Bell's booth.

Another beadwork artist at the fair was Tara Steve, daughter of Eleanor Chickaway.

"I used to go to my grandmother's and we would get chinaberries," Steve said. " We would get the seeds out of the berries and my grandmother would boil the seeds. The seeds would make a certain shape and we would make beadwork with these seeds."

Beadwork is a family affair with Steve as she was taught by her mother who was taught by her mother.

Steve said she is still learning new and different aspects in beadwork.